'Damn it, of all things...'
It was the worst-case scenario I could imagine.
In fact, there is nothing as certain as the Holy Empire for hiding something.
Entering the Holy Empire, let alone leaving, involves strict procedures.
It is a nation where you cannot enter easily, cannot leave easily, and it bears a considerably closed nature.
Frankly speaking, it was the first means that came to mind.
But with the excuse that Baltan is a demon, I erased the possibility.
The desire not to get involved with the Holy Empire was the biggest factor.
'However...'
-Professor, code decoding complete.
It is confirmed that Chancellor Heinz is currently in the Holy Empire Bert.
...Damn it.
'Just try having decoded it poorly.'
I have to get involved with the Holy Empire whether I like it or not.
If this turns out to be meaningless, I won't let those Aeroc Intelligence Agency bastards off the hook, no matter what means I have to use.
'Phew!'
Knowing the hidden side of the Holy Empire better than anyone, making the decision isn't easy.
But there is exactly one way to enter the Holy Empire as of now.
Accompanying those Paladins in front.
I know, but words don't come out easily.
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Notifications pouring down.
That soon became confidence.
With a much more relaxed mind, I opened my mouth.
"I will ask the Saintess. If we go to the Holy Empire, a trial will be held, correct?"
"That is correct."
"Can you be confident that the trial is fair?"
"O, of course."
In fact, there is no way Bert's trial has fairness.
I, the author, know entirely how many things those who advocate 'World Justice' ignore and crush for the sake of that justice.
The reason I bring up such a story is to 'imprint' Karin's statement on the third parties here.
The weight the name Lucas carries here is never light.
The Holy Empire, and Lucas.
All these keywords would have been deeply imprinted on them, and if the Holy Empire intends to define themselves as 'Justice' in the future too, they won't be able to harm me recklessly in this situation.
But it's still unsettling even with this.
"Fair? What a laughable sound! Do you think I don't know the Holy Empire?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Is there anywhere as closed as the Holy Empire. Such closed places always tend to create corruption. Is the trial held within really fair? Who guarantees that?"
"That, as the Saintess of Bert, I—"
"Isn't the Saintess also a person of Bert. How can we trust that guarantee, I'm asking."
"T, that is..."
Oho, well done.
Conference Head.
He is painting the situation I wanted on his own.
But what followed was even more than what I hoped for.
"As the one responsible for this sacred 'Conference', I have an obligation to take responsibility for everything that happens at the conference. This barbarity of the Holy Empire can also be said to be under our conference's jurisdiction. I will not treat you, who have established distinguished merits in the war against demons, with the laws here out of respect, but I will accompany Professor Lucas and watch the Holy Empire's justice clearly with these two eyes. If suspicion is found in that process, I will stake the name of the 'Conference' and hold the Holy Empire responsible. Do you agree?"
"...."
Karin could not answer easily.
It is understandable, as the name Saintess is just shiny on the outside; it doesn't really have that great power.
All decisions of Bert come from the 'Conclave'.
Naturally, the 12 Cardinals of the Conclave must be watching this situation.
"...They have agreed."
It seems she received an answer from the Conclave.
Right, they would have no choice but to agree.
Since there are so many eyes watching this situation.
"Then, Professor Lucas and Conference Head Alan, we will escort you to the Holy Empire Bert."
At the Saintess's words, a Paladin from behind approached.
"What are you doing now!"
Seeing the Paladin taking out handcuffs, Alan was furious.
"Clearly, Professor Lucas is cooperating with you, yet the Holy Empire intends to treat Professor Lucas as a sinner now!"
"Ah..."
Karin hurriedly blocked the front.
"Please forgive the rudeness. All of this is my responsibility."
"Tsk..."
Is there a need to add anything when the Saintess apologizes quickly.
Alan and I decided to just let this level of mistake pass, but...
"I am truly sorry. Today, my close friend whom I spent time with like a brother since childhood... left for God's side. Please consider the sorrow I feel..."
"Simon!"
Karin shouted hurriedly trying to cover that man's mouth, but the water was already spilled.
"...Left for God's side? Consider the sorrow? Saying laughable things!"
Alan struck the head of the guy named Simon with his thick fist.
"Ordinary people call that a suicide terror attack, you fanatic bastard!"
Since it was correct, I didn't bother to stop him.
***
"Old man, move quickly!"
Smack!
A whip with not a shred of mercy is wielded.
At the blow of ignorant power, the old man's body stumbled greatly.
But the old man swallowed a groan, endured it, and began to move a rock as big as his own body again.
Only when the day grew dark did the terrible labor end.
The laborers including the old man dragged their exhausted bodies and moved to the shabby accommodation.
As soon as he entered, people flocked around the old man.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"I am fine."
"Please eat this. It's bread we secretly saved earlier."
"I thank you, but how about you young ones eat it rather than an old man like me."
"If you collapse, sir, all of us crumble. You must eat well. You must overcome the hardship."
"That's right. Aren't you our pillar, sir."
People agreed with his words.
The old man looked at the lump of bread placed before him and picked it up.
Gulp.
In this place where starvation is natural, this bread holds a greater meaning than anything.
It's crumbly and tastes like chewing sand, just barely enough to appease hunger, but even that is something to be grateful for.
The old man began to tear off the corners of the bread.
And then he began to share it little by little, starting with the children.
"Thank you for calling this humble body a pillar. However, I too can stand firm as a pillar because you all support me. Let's endure together. Surely, there must be a way to escape this hell."
"Sir!"
The biggest lump of bread remained.
The old man tore off just a tiny corner, then handed the rest to the original owner.
"I have a small appetite, so this is sufficient."
"Sir..."
"Now, let's have a humble party with this."
As the old man shook the crumb-like piece into his mouth, people followed and put theirs in their mouths.
Children licking thoroughly just in case there were remaining crumbs could be seen.
'Please, someone notice that code. There isn't time.'
The old man prayed earnestly in his heart.
***
The road heading to the Holy Empire, Shining Road.
While loading my body onto this passage that only authorized people can pass, I recalled the settings of the Holy Empire in
The Holy Empire itself was special—no, it was correct to see it as unique.
The engineering that forms the foundation of this world is Magic Engineering.
However, the Holy Empire uses out of place artifacts called 'Holy Relics'.
Right now, just looking at this Shining Road, it isn't an ordinary road but a 'tunnel' created by connecting out of place artifacts with out of place artifacts.
Just by standing on it, one 'teleports' to Bert.
However, limits exist for Holy Relics.
Unlike Magic Tools widely spread even to civilians, Holy Relics are a kind of privilege that only a few can possess even within Bert.
Because of that, there are places partially taking primitive forms.
For example—
'Like the Atan Tower construction site.'
The construction of Atan Tower, which will act as a detention center confining demons in the future, is being built by pure manpower.
Of course, the majority of those laborers are external manpower, not citizens of Bert.
To be exact, they are humans whose suspicion of communicating with demons was discovered.
It contains the meaning of repenting by building a facility to punish demons with their own hands, but not everyone there is a human who communicated with demons.
As I said, since the Holy Empire's work processing is no different from that of a fanatic group, there are people dragged in unfairly due to witch hunts, and those caught due to guilt by association just because a distant relative communicated with demons without any relation to them.
'The place where they would have hidden Heinz is, as expected...'
No matter how much I think, it's only the Atan Tower construction site.
"Ah, that is called Atan Tower. Even before completion, isn't it a tremendous majesty?"
"...."
A Paladin speaks proudly.
At the same time, Karin's face darkened.
It has to be so.
Because the completion of that tower means her death.
To safely accommodate demons, tremendous Divine Energy is needed.
One would be able to notice where these lunatics will extract that Divine Energy from without me bothering to say.
"There was a decision from the Conclave to treat Professor Lucas and Conference Head Alan as state guests."
Although the appearance wasn't state guest treatment at all, it seems they intend to smooth things over like this since their shame was revealed because of me.
I shouldn't let my guard down yet.
"This is Saintro Temple where the two of you will stay."
In the first place, the concept of a hotel doesn't exist in Bert.
Because tourists do not exist.
However, visits of state guest level clearly exist, and Saintro Temple located in the center of Bert is in charge of their accommodation.
A temple deeply imbued with holiness, looking as if Gaudi's Sagrada Familia was moved here as is.
Alan and I were handed over to the priests who came out to meet us after receiving contact.
"The investigation will take place from tomorrow. Excuse us, but you must keep your place until then."
"I suppose so."
Even if they say state guest treatment, the reason I came here is, after all, because the Holy Empire bastards view me as Demonic—that is, a suspect with contact with demons.
"What kind of rudeness is that, tsk! Anyway, these damn fanatic bastards, there isn't a single corner I like!"
Alan complains instead of me.
It was a rare thing.
This old man is actually a gentleman friendly to the Holy Empire.
Although Bert is a fanatic group, it is true that they are a great power in the war against demons.
But perhaps causing a disturbance at the conference left a big mark, his stance seems to have changed firmly.
"We will escort you to where you will rest."
I moved my steps following the priest.
As it is a temple boasting considerable scale, we had to walk for quite a while, but since this temple itself is a Holy Relic, fatigue wasn't felt at all.
The Conference Head and I came to stay on different floors.
The priest who guided the room warned firmly as he left the door.
"You must fast starting from 10 o'clock today. If you want to make the Demonic Energy test result tomorrow a little more accurate, that is. You may drink water."
Talking like it's the day before a health checkup or something.
"And please make sure never to leave this place alone."
The priest left a kind yet simultaneously eerie warning and left.
There is a plausible reason behind that warning.
This Saintro Temple acts as accommodation for state guests, but at the same time, it also doubles as a kind of prison confining them.
It's not a concept of forced confinement, but a means to prevent them from wandering recklessly around Bert.
Of course, normally I would have followed those words faithfully.
However, a reason exists for why I followed meekly all the way to this Bert.
That is, finding Heinz's whereabouts.
However, I alone cannot find Heinz in this fanatic den without any preparation.
'...If the readers weren't here, that is.'
Thanks to the readers watching me, a way has appeared.
"Use Special Draw Ticket."
[You have used the Special Draw Ticket!]
It said an item most needed for me currently would drop.
[You have obtained 'Gaudi's Eyepiece'.]